Education of a Foot Doctor
To become a foot doctor, podiatrists must hold a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) from a college of podiatric medicine. To attend a college of podiatric medicine, a foot doctor must first complete undergraduate studies and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Like all doctors, foot doctors take courses in the sciences including chemistry, biology and possibly physics or kinesiology. Most podiatrists will attend medical school for 4 years. Two of those years typically include rotations, internships and other vocational training.
Certification of a Foot Doctor
A podiatrist is licensed in the state he or she will eventually practice in. Each state sets its own requirements for licensing, but many states have similar programs. Because many states are similar, in some cases, a state may allow for a podiatrist certified in elsewhere to receive a license through a reciprocal program without undergoing a second set of certification requirements. Regardless of the state, however, a D.P.M. from an accredited college of podiatric medicine is required. A post-doctoral residency may additionally be required, which means the foot doctor must go through various rotations and vocational training prior to certification. The American Board of Podiatric Surgery grants certification only after these initial requirements have been satisfied. Then, a foot doctor will likely provide case submissions and complete written and oral exams. Following this process, a foot doctor will be licensed to provide you medical care in the areas of foot, ankle and lower leg ailments.
A Typical Day for a Foot Doctor
Once a podiatrist has been educated, trained and certified, he or she may work in a private practice, hospital or clinic. Often, a foot doctor will go on to teach classes and seminars on podiatry and may eventually serve at a college or on the board of a hospital. Typically, a foot doctor will provide treatment for any number of foot and ankle ailments once a patient has been referred for an examination. A referral is typically required as a podiatrist is a specialist. To get a referral, simply visit your primary care physician and explain your foot problem then request to see a podiatrist. Once serving as a foot doctor, a podiatrist may treat ailments such as bunions, corns, warts, ingrown toe nails and other foot abnormalities. If surgery is required, a podiatrist will often be qualified to perform any necessary surgery. Even chronic or genetic disorders such as long second toe can often be cured through treatment or surgery with a certified foot doctor.
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